บท 40: First Duel - Aftermath
The match didn't end when Kir threw Bjab out, so he had to assume he needed to defeat the minions too.
Making his way back, he decided to start with Gron, since he was closer, Jasta having retreated somewhere out of sight.
Kir flipped him onto his back with a foot before grabbing his arm and dragging him to the edge of the arena, tossing him out like a heavy bag of garbage.
He turned just in time for a bolt of magic to nearly strike him in the head, and the only thing that saved him was his hand as he reached up and caught it, his hand stinging as the mana dissipated against it. If he hadn't just cast a spell...
Jasta had peeked out from behind a rock to make his attack and Kir approached with a stalking gait, only to find Jasta cowering as he cried out "I surrender!"
Instantly, lights appeared above the arena, and the landscape disappeared. Kir watched as the shields pulled upward, dumping Gron and Bjab back onto the stage. A moment later, the Host reappeared, and with a pair of touches, brought the two back to full consciousness, at least enough to stand.
"The Mage's Duel is settled. Kir Gale has won. May all depart in fairness, and know that for long as you remain on this campus, the terms of your duel will be enforced."
Kir frowned, realizing that of course the duel could only be enforced on campus. The Host made its way over to the three bullies. On all of their arms, the black ring that had been added at the start of the duel turned red, causing them to shift and grunt with discomfort.
The Host then came before Kir. "As the victorious one, you have the option to remove your mark."
Kir looked out over the crowd. They looked unsatisfied and agitated, but seemed to be waiting for something. Several second years did look rather happy as they counted their winnings.
"I'll keep it," Kir said. He had a feeling he'd be adding a lot more before his time at the Academy was done.
The Host nodded and took Kir's hand by the wrist, raising it up in a show of victory.
Amongst the crowd, only the second years seemed keen to cheer Kir on, and Kir realized that with as many duel marks as he had, Bjab had likely bullied many of them over the course of their first year.
His goal accomplish, Kir turned to depart.
"You better watch your back, demonblood!" Bjab shouted, standing up. "I ever catch you in the city, I'll-"
Suddenly a shock ran through his body, the red stripe on his arm glowing for just a moment.
Kir made a dismissive noise and resumed his walk. He was almost at the elevator section when a small figure peeked out from in front of him.
"Kordia?" Kir guessed.
"H-hi Kir..." she greeted, blushing.
Kir blushed a bit, telling himself it was probably a sympathetic reaction, before scratching the back of his head. "Hey, uh... I hope that wasn't too over the top..." Kir laughed nervously.
Many students were beginning to depart, and the first group that arrived at the hall Kir was standing at the edge of took one look and decided to take a different path. Kir watched them go before turning back to Kordia.
"Actually... I wanted to say you did a good job... those three used to take money from a lot of the smaller beastfolk... including me..." Kordia smiled nervously. "Is it weird that I'm thanking you for beating up bullies?"
Kir shrugged. "I'm happy to have done some good, even if other people don't feel grateful for it. Wanna talk about it in the elevator? I'm starved..."
"Oh, it is almost time for lunch I guess..." she followed at his side as he turned and walked to the nearest elevator, thumbing the button for the cafeteria on floor 55.
Oddly, as soon as they were alone in the elevator, Kordia didn't seem to want to talk. After a few moments though, Kir broke the silence.
"So... people don't seem happy that I won..." Kir noted.
"The second years were ecstatic... I mean, after what you did to the harbor, most of them knew to bet on you... um... including me..." she blushed.
"Ah. So that's how it is," Kir said.
"Yeah... I think the rest just don't know what to make of you... but you're actually kindof nice. I mean... you helped me when I was in trouble." Kordia's tail wagged.
"You were there, and you needed it," Kir said simply. "As far as those guys... I'm sure if they hadn't decided to come after me, they'd have just picked on someone else."
"Um..." Kordia fidgeted a bit, clearly not comfortable with something. "I wanted to... pay you back for your help..." she reached into her satchel and extracted a purse, pulling out two gold coins. "It's half my winnings..."
Kir saw that her hand was shaking as she held them out to him. Experimentally, he knelt a bit held out his much larger hand for her to place the coins in his palm.
She quaked harder as she slowly lowered them, as if her body didn't want to let them go, "Come on, Kordia..." she told herself, "You can do it..." Finally, she grabbed her wrist and pulled it down, letting go of the coins just before before slapping them into his hand. She panted a little from the effort.
Kir chuckled, then put his free hand over hers, rotating her hands in his until the coins clinked together as they landed back in her palm.
"Keep it," Kir said. "I'll make my own money while I'm on campus," He stood up fully, and gently rubbed her head between the ears.
"How do you plan to do that?" Kordia asked, her hands automatically dropping the coins in her purse.
"First... I'm thinking I need to see the menu," Kir answered, right as the doors opened.
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